Editing Dievturība (section)

==Beliefs==
{{Baltic religion}}
Dievturība is primarily rooted in [[Latvian folklore]], [[Daina (Latvia)|folk songs]] and [[Latvian mythology]]. The main god is [[Dievas|Dievs]], who unifies spirit and matter, as well as other dualities such as father and mother or good and bad. Other deities are either aspects of Dievs or other types of non-deified spirits. The goddess [[Māra (goddess)|Māra]] represents Dievs' material aspect. [[Laima]] is an aspect of Dievs, and connected to causality, fire and fortune.{{sfn|Muktupāvels|2005|p=763}}

By necessity, modern Dievturība differs from the historical Latvian religion. For example, there is no evidence that the Latvian pagans recognized a [[Triple deity|trinity of deities]]; in Dievturība, Dievs, Māra and Laima are a triune godhead. In Dievturi theology, several triumvirates of deities and concepts are recognized.

Humans are believed to be naturally good due to the will of Dievs.{{sfn|Muktupāvels|2005|p=764}} The human is also understood as threefold, and consists of ''{{lang|lv|augums}}'' – physical body, ''{{lang|lv|velis}}'' – ancestral spirit, and ''{{lang|lv|dvēsele}}'' – soul. After death, the physical body is destroyed, the astral body enters the ''{{lang|lv|veļu valsts}}'' (world of shadows) and gradually disappears, and the soul is eternal and unifies with Dievs.{{sfn|Muktupāvels|2005|pp=763–764}}

The end of autumn and the start of winter is accepted as the time of [[Veneration of the dead|remembrance of dead ancestors]]. In the dark time of autumn, people gave food for their dead relatives due to the "dying of nature" or as a thanks gesture for a good harvest during the summer.

Former [[President of Latvia]] [[Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga]] wrote that “the ancient Latvian did not think of himself as lord and ruler over nature, nor superior to nature, but rather he considered himself to be an inseparable ingredient of nature.”<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jātniece |first=Amanda |date=2004-12-07 |title=A primer on the Latvian folk religion |url=https://latviansonline.com/a-primer-on-the-latvian-folk-religion/ |access-date=2024-01-07 |website=Latvians Online |language=en-US}}</ref>